Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Hc~ Enclosure
The present invention relates to a system for increasing
the efficiency of a heat pump. More particularly, the
invention relates to an enclosure which surrounds the
compressor portion of a heat pump and which employs solar
energy to increase the ambient temperature of the heat
pump, An optional advantage can be realized by placing a
heat coil withln the enclosure for heating domestic water.
The increase in energy prices has made it necessary to
look for ways of increasing the efficiency of existing
energy consuming devices, such as heat pumps. Prior art
æystems have attempted to use waste heat energy, for example,
the heat energy dissipated by an internal combustion engine
or an electric motor to increase the ambient temperature of
the compressor portion of a heat pump. The prior art has
not, however, used solar energy for this purpose.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention there is
provided an enclosure for housing the condenser portion of a
heat pump comprising insulated wall means surrounding said
condenser portion; solar energy receiving means located in
said wall means, including a window and a plate defining a
warm air passage; duct means located within said enclosure
for directing warm air from said warm air passage, over said
condenser portion and back to said warm air passage; and fan
means located within said duct means for moving said warm
air.
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According to one embodiment of the invention, fans and
dampers controlled by temperature sensors located both
insicle and outside the enclosure optimize the heat energy
captured from the sun. Storage collectors, in another
embocliment, are located within the enclosure and release
heat energy to maintain a higher ambient temperature
within the enclosure under shade or darkness conditions.
It is an object of the invention to provide a system
which uses solar energy to increase the ambient
temperature surrounding the compressor of a heat pump to
thereby increase its heating efficiency.
It is another object of the invention to utilize the
solar effect within an enclosure to heat domestic water.
It is a further object of the invention to extend the
time in which higher ambient temperatures exist within the
enclosure by using heat storage elements.
The invention will be described in detail hereinbelow
with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic sectional end view of an
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a schematic sectional front view of an
embodiment of Figure l; and
Figure 3 is a schematic sectional top view of the
embodiment taken along 3-3 of Figure 1.
Detailed Description of Embodiments
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, a conventional heat
pump compressor unit 10 is surrounded by an enclosure 12.
The enclosure is comprised of an outer wall 14 and an
inner wall 16 sandwiching insulation 18. The insulated
portion of the enclosure includes a bottom wall 20, a back
wall 22, a top wall 24, a lower front wall 26 and side
walls 28 and 30. The bottom wall 20 is deeper than the
top 24, thereby providing an inclined front surface 32.
This front surface is covered with glass 34. The inclined
surface 32 is inclined from the vertical at approximately
30 in order to provide efficient transfer of solar energy
to the
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interior of the enclosure. A plate 36 is located within
the enclosure and is approximately the same si2e as the
window 34. The plate 36 is inclined at the same angle as
the window 34 and is spaced parallel a short distance away
from the window. The space between the top 24 and the
plate 36 can be closed off or opened by a mechanical
damper 38. A circulation fan 40 is located in a duct 42
at one side of the lower portion of the enclosure 12. The
duct 42 has access to the space between the plate 36 and
the window 34 via a air collecting duct 44 located at the
lower end of plate 36.
A second damper 46 is located within the duct 42 and
controls the flow of air from fan 40 either over the heat
pump 10 in the direction shown by arrow 48 or out of the
enclosure via exhaust vent 50 shown by arrow 52. When the
damper 46 is in the exhaust position, fresh air is drawn
into the enclosure via inlet vent 54 in a direction shown
by arrow 56. Baffles 58, 60 and 62 ensure that the air
flows over the compressor 10, upwardly to the top of the
enclosure and down between the space provided by the
window 34 and the plate 36. Heat storage elements 64 are
located above the compressor 10. These storage elements
can be fastened to the baffles 60 and 62.
In operation, solar energy enters the enclosure during
sunlight hours through the window 34. This heats the
temperature of the air in the passage between window 34
and plate 36. Fan 40 draws the air from this passage
through duct 42 and over the compressor 10. The heat pump
exhausts warm air upwardly over the heat storage elements
64 and into the top of the passage between window 34 and
plate 36 when damper 38 is open.
When the heat pump is used to cool the interior of a
dwelling, the ambient temperature of the compressor must
be lowered as much as possible. This is accomplished by
moving the damper 46 to its venting position. Fresh air
is then pulled into the enclosure by the fan through inlet
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duct 54, circulates over the compressor, and exits via
duct 50.
Plate 36 can have a black surface to increase its heat
conductivity. The surface can also be maximized by
corrugating plate 36.
Optionally, a heat coil 66 can be inserted in the duct
42 directly between the lower extremity of plate 36 and
fan 40. The warm air flowing through duct 42 heats a
fluid circulating in the coil 66. This fluid could be the
domestic hot water system of a residence.
The compressor 10 is connected to an evaporator unit
located within the dwelling being heated or cooled by
tubes of a conventional type. The heat pump mentioned in
the present invention does not form part of the invention.
Similarly, the coil 66 is conncted to a hot water tank
located within the dwelling via p~pes. Once again, the
hot water tank and associated piping does not form part of
the invention.
A control box 68 controls the operation of the
mechanical dampers 38 and 46 along with the operation of
fan 40. Information is received by control box 68 from
temperature sensors 69 and 70, one located outside the
enclosure and the other located within the space provided
between window 34 and plate 36.
In winter operation, when the temperature T2 within
the space is greater than temperature Tl outside the
enclosure and when temperature Tl is less than -8C,
damper 38 is open and damper 46 is closed. Fan 40 is
"on". When the temperature Tl is greater than -8C, both
dampers 38 and 46 are open and fan 40 is "on".
When temperature T2 is equal to temperature Tl and
temperature Tl is less than -8C, both dampers 38 and 46
are closed, and fan 40 is "off".
In summer, both dampers 38 and 46 are open and the fan
is "on".
